Chapter 5
Eryke the First didn’t seem to be in his right mind as he roared, tilting his head toward the ceiling.
Just as he was about to go berserk, a dart struck his neck, and he collapsed on the spot.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Eryke was casually doing pull-ups when he suddenly paused. A surge of information flooded his mind, but he quickly sorted through it with the help of a strange energy assisting him.
“Did I get contaminated by the Dragon bloodline?” He frowned.
“And it’s the lowest ranking at that.”
Eryke was thoughtful for a moment before he heaved a sigh of relief.
“Thank God I increased my clone’s mental immunity.”
***
Eryke the First groggily opened his eyes amidst the loud shouts, and the first thing he saw stunned him.
A colossal stadium stretched around him, packed with hundreds of people in their seats, their expressions filled with pure excitement as they roared in anticipation.
The first thing he did was check his status.
Everything was normal except for one newly added section:
[Bloodline: Lesser Dragon]
“I really did gain a bloodline,” he murmured, a surge of uncontrollable joy welling up in his heart.
Unfortunately, that joy didn’t last long.
Rumble!
The ground trembled as the chain gates opposite him slowly creaked open. From within emerged a massive, leopard-like beast, the size of an elephant, its two curved tusks gleaming menacingly.
Eryke swallowed hard and steadied his breathing. Maybe it was his Mental Immunity, but he didn’t feel fear… No, instead, he felt an unprecedented sense of clarity.
Without hesitation, he rushed toward the beast head-on!
***
“Oh, a lesser dragon at the duckling level fighting a paragon? What an unfortunate matchup.”
“The odds are 2:40—it’s not even worth betting at this point. I heard there’s a stronger one coming up soon. Maybe that’ll be interesting.”
The spectators’ murmurs filled the stadium, accompanied by waves of disappointed “boo~” shouts.
As for Eryke the First, the paragon simply raised its claws and swooped down, sending him crashing into the wall.
“Damn it,” Eryke the First snarled as he stood up. Strangely, he couldn’t feel the pain. His pupils slitted, and two wings sprouted from his back.
With ferocious determination, he charged again!
Even with his Mental Immunity shielding him from the corruption of the bloodline, the inner desire to fight burned too strongly to be suppressed.
Just as he was about to reach the paragon, it spewed out a wave of fire.
Eryke the First activated <
Awoo!
A small cry escaped the beast before it twisted its massive body and sent him flying through the air once again.
“What is this useless dragon bloodline? Aside from strengthening my body, there’s almost nothing I can do,” he grumbled.
Before he could even stand up, his hair stood on end—an intense heat surged toward him, sending sharp stings through his skin.
‘I need the main body’s help.’
***
Back in the real world, Eryke was still training when a sudden surge of information flooded his mind, making him pause. He immediately became thoughtful.
After a moment of contemplation, he could only grit his teeth and purchase a skill from the shop.
[Congratulations! You have spent 500,000 Destiny points to exchange for the unique skill
***
A skill that gathers the power of the stars to Strike!
***
Eryke the First spread his palms and then retracted his fingers one by one, drawing his arms back to build momentum.
He punched out!
Starlight gathered around his fist, glittering like stars, before it landed on the beast with terrifying speed.
Boom!
The beast recoiled from the impact, sent back a few paces on its paws but still standing firm. However, it was angrier now, letting out a more shocking roar.
Eryke the First stood his ground, using <
In just a few seconds, he was already close. The paragon, about to spew fire again, opened its massive mouth…
“Not so fast!” Eryke roared as starlight once again gathered around his fist, and he punched right into the paragon’s mouth.
Bang!
Its sharp teeth shattered, and his brutal fist went deep inside its body.
Countless small injuries appeared all around the paragon’s body, and as starlight leaked from the wounds, the beast exploded in a spray of blood and gory.
Silence.
Everyone was stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Eryke the First, though initially pale and on the verge of vomiting, suddenly felt an unknown energy surge through his mind, calming him almost instantly.
He coldly scanned the stunned crowd before turning and walking back through the open door from which he had come.
“How the fuck did a lesser dragon beat a Paragon?”
“This… Did you see his fist glow in the starlight?”
“Has this dragon mutated? Even though it has the lowest halfling bloodline?”
Eryke the First was escorted by a group of people in robes back to his cell. He didn’t resist, sensing the overwhelming surveillance that seemed to be watching his every move.
His Dragonic instincts flared, and he knew that the moment he made a move, it would be the end of him.